Senior Director Payroll

The Senior Director of Global Payroll is a pivotal leadership role within our Finance organization, reporting directly to the Chief Accounting Officer. This individual will be responsible for the strategic direction, operational excellence, and compliance of all payroll activities worldwide. The Senior Director will lead a global team of payroll professionals, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for employees across the globe. This role requires a visionary leader with deep expertise in global payroll operations, technology, compliance, and team development, capable of driving efficiency and innovation in a complex, high-volume environment.

You will…

Global Payroll Strategy & Leadership:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive global payroll strategy that aligns with the company's overall financial objectives and growth plans.
   
• Serve as the primary subject matter expert and strategic advisor on all global payroll matters to the Chief Accounting Officer, executive leadership, and other key stakeholders.
   
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing global payroll team, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and professional growth.

Operational Excellence & Efficiency:

• Oversee all aspects of global payroll operations, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies across multiple countries.
• Drive standardization and optimization of global payroll processes, leveraging best practices and technology to enhance efficiency and reduce risk.
• Manage relationships with third-party payroll providers and vendors globally, ensuring service level agreements (SLAs) are met and performance is continuously evaluated.
• Implement and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and service metrics for global payroll operations, identifying areas for improvement and driving corrective actions.

Compliance & Risk Management:

• Ensure strict adherence to all global, federal, state, and local payroll tax laws, wage and hour regulations, data privacy laws (e.g., GDPR), and other relevant statutory requirements.
• Establish and maintain robust internal controls over payroll processes to safeguard company assets, ensure data integrity, and mitigate risks.
• Collaborate closely with Legal, Tax, HR, and Internal Audit teams to ensure compliance and address emerging regulatory changes.
• Oversee year-end processing, tax filings, and reporting for all global entities.

Technology & System Optimization:

• Lead a significant global payroll modernization project, transitioning from current legacy systems to a new, state-of-the-art cloud-based payroll platform.
• Drive the evaluation, selection, implementation, and ongoing optimization of global payroll systems and technologies (e.g., Workday, SAP, Oracle, specialized global payroll platforms).
• Ensure seamless integration between payroll systems, HRIS, timekeeping systems, and general ledger.
• Champion automation initiatives to streamline processes, improve data accuracy, and enhance the employee experience.

Stakeholder Collaboration & Communication:

• Partner effectively with HR, Finance (Treasury, Tax, Financial Planning & Analysis), Legal, IT, and other internal departments to ensure cohesive and integrated processes.
• Communicate complex payroll information clearly and concisely to diverse audiences, including executive leadership.
• Act as a key liaison for internal and external audits related to payroll.

You'll have…

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 15+ years of progressive experience in payroll management, with at least 8-10 years in a senior leadership role overseeing global payroll operations for a multinational organization.
• Extensive experience within a Fortune 500 company, preferably in the automotive, manufacturing, or a similarly complex, high-volume industry.
• Proven track record of managing large, complex payroll environments across multiple international jurisdictions (e.g., EMEA, APAC, LATAM, North America).
• Demonstrated success in leading and implementing major payroll system transformations, specifically transitioning from legacy systems to cloud-based solutions.
• Strong background in accounting principles, financial controls, and general ledger reconciliation related to payroll.

You may also have…

• Master's degree (MBA) or relevant professional certification (e.g., Certified Payroll Professional - CPP, Chartered Accountant - CA) highly preferred.